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Sources: Liverpool close in on Romeo Lavia - deal 'expected to be agreed'
Liverpool are convinced Romeo Lavia wants to join them ahead of his other suitors, sources have told Football Insider.
The Merseysiders are in talks to lure the midfielder, 19, from Southampton but face strong competition from Premier League rivals including Arsenal and Chelsea.
There is also interest in the former Man City star from Barcelona but the fee Southampton want for Lavia is expected to be out of the Spanish giants’ reach this summer.
Liverpool want one more big-money midfielder signing this summer after already wrapping up the captures of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister for a combined £95million plus add-ons.
Lavia has been targeted as Jurgen Klopp and the club’s recruitment team look to bring in a defensive midfielder with his best years ahead of him.
He attracted the attention of Liverpool with a string of impressive performances for Southampton in his debut Premier League campaign last season and sources say he is seen as a “beast” who can break up the play, close down the space in which opponents operate and lay the foundations for the team’s attacking play.
Football Insider revealed on Friday that Southampton star duo Lavia and James Ward-Prowse are “fully expected” to return to the Premier League with a move away from St Mary’s Stadium in this transfer window.
However, it is believed Liverpool are only currently willing to offer around £40million for Lavia as negotiations continue – while Southampton are believed to be holding out for a figure closer to £50million.
Significantly, the Merseysiders believe the player is keen to move to Anfield and a deal is “expected to be agreed”, sources say, if the fee can be settled.
Southampton are keen to maximise the Belgium international’s value as Man City will be entitled to 20 per cent of any fee received for his services.
That clause was negotiated as part of the reported £10.5million deal which brought Lavia to Southampton last summer (2022).
He impressed for the Saints despite their 20th-place finish and subsequent relegation, racking up 35 appearances across all competitions in his first senior campaign.
Lavia, 19, has returned to training at Southampton ahead of their first pre-season friendly against Benfica next week (12 July).
In other news, three clubs make moves to sign 20-year-old Liverpool will now let go.